Top Hyundai Verna pros and cons - Best sedan under Rs 20 lakh?

Gone are the times when there used to be ample options if you were on the lookout for a C-segment sedan in India. The market today is filled with SUVs and pseudo-SUVs, not just in India but globally too. This leaves buyers looking for a sedan with very few options to choose from. While the D-segment has totally disappeared in the last couple of years, there are still some cars holding ground under the Rs 20 lakh bracket, one of them being the Hyundai Verna. Is it, in fact, the best sedan under Rs 20 lakh that you can buy in the country today? Here are the top Hyundai Verna pros and cons that’ll make it easier for you to answer that question.

2024 Hyundai Verna pros

Most powerful engine in the segment

The 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine with direct injection on the Hyundai Verna is the most powerful mill in the segment, generating an output of 160PS and a peak torque of 253Nm. Paired with a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission, this powertrain is one that will keep you satisfied if you have that itch for performance but are bound by a budget of around 2 million rupees. The DCT is quick to act and goes well with the GDi engine. If you want even more control over the gear shifts, there’s also the 6-speed manual on offer.

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Premium interior and tons of features

The cabin of the Verna feels very well designed and sophisticated. It feels elegant and youthful at the same time, with premium material covering the boldly-shaped surfaces. Being a Hyundai, it gets plenty of features and would not leave you wanting for more, unless you are a person who’s very hard to please. 

Value for money

The Verna is like one of those gift hampers that you get on festive occasions; you might not like everything but there’s something for everybody in the package. The car balances performance with luxury and safety at the same time, and will cater to the needs of all the members of your family. It is comfortable, sporty, and spacious, everything that a family sedan is expected to be.

The design

Yeah, you’re still reading about the pros of the Verna. In my humble opinion, the design of the Verna is appealing. It has undoubtedly been the talking point of this car, and for the right reasons. It is polarising, I’ll not deny that, but the design grows on you over time, even if you don’t like it at first sight. To sum it up, the Verna boasts of a radical and interesting design language that might not make you fall in love with itself at first sight, but would not make you regret choosing it further down the road either.

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Hyundai Verna cons

Lack of wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay

This is a big miss, and it’s not just restricted to the Verna but even on cars like the Creta, Alcazar and even the Tucson — the 10.25-inch infotainment system does not support wireless connectivity for Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. What makes the problem even more unpleasant is that the same can be found on lower variants with the 8-inch infotainment system. You’re paying more but are still being robbed of this convenient feature. It is not a deal breaker, but is definitely a shortcoming that’ll annoy you almost everyday. This might soon get resolved as a spokesperson from Hyundai confirmed that the 10.25-inch infotainment system will start supporting wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay from the upcoming year.

Not so efficient NA petrol engine

The naturally-aspirated 1.5-litre MPi petrol engine has been known to not be the best when it comes to fuel economy, or as we better know it, mileage. The GDi, despite being a turbocharged unit, delivers a better fuel economy than the naturally-aspirated unit. The NA engine with the CVT is pleasant to drive in the city though, with its smooth manners and non-erratic acceleration.

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No diesel engine on offer

The last generation of the Hyundai Verna used to have a 1.5-litre diesel engine on offer, which the current-generation of the Verna does not. It isn’t unusual in the segment though as none of its rivals offer a diesel engine either. But, the diesel is available in C-segment compact-SUVs like the Creta and Seltos, which might have also been able to attract some buyers for the Verna, had it been offered on the sedan. 

Confusing steering wheel design

We might be pushing this a bit too much but the design of the steering wheel is a bit confusing. The two-spoke design with the vertically-palindrome (if that phrase exists) Hyundai logo makes it difficult to comprehend whether the steering is aligned straight or upside-down.

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Verdict

It is evident that the pros outweigh the cons in this case. To do a quick comparison with the Hyundai Verna rivals, the Ciaz hasn’t been updated since we can remember, the Honda City isn’t very enthusiastic to drive anymore, the Virtus and Slavia lack behind on the quality front, and the Verna thus emerges as a clear winner among these sedans. It has its own share of short-comings, but the value that it offers does make it the best sedan under Rs 20 lakh currently on offer.

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